In the race to be the top cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft, each contender has taken a different path through the pre-draft circuit.
LSU's Mansoor Delane established himself as the favorite with his excellent platform season and put an exclamation point on his profile with a sub-4.40 40-yard dash. Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, after an exceptional 2024 campaign, missed the entire year with an ACL tear -- among the biggest injury questions of this class.
Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell is my favorite from the bunch. But after a hamstring injury postponed his pro day into a not-so-private workout, it flared up again to spoil the festivities.
Avieon Terrell injury update
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On Monday, Terrell had the opportunity to show scouts what they were missing from the Clemson pro day. Fate had other plans.
[Adam Schefter reported](https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2038633405127233815?s=20) that he aggravated the hamstring injury on the first run of his day, ending it early and all but guaranteeing that we won't get public testing numbers.
That's obviously not ideal for Terrell, who showed plus athleticism on tape but isn't the type of no-doubt track star that doesn't need to run.
Fortunately, Terrell didn't need to post an exceptional time to remain a first-round prospect. His burst stands out even more than his long speed, allowing him to make plays in the backfield and click and close in zone coverage. Terrell changes direction well and operates with smooth footwork, too, allowing him to play both on the boundary and in the slot.
That versatility is both a sticking point and a significant question in his profile. He's undersized, at 5'10" and 186 pounds, and he lacks the length to properly compensate. While that puts him behind the eight ball from a boundary perspective, his coverage technique and processing stand out.
**MORE:** [Mansoor Delane, Keionte Scott see draft stock boost at pro day](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/mansoor-delane-keionte-scott-draft-stock-boost-pro-day/c8cb7d2a72342acf8a24c9a1)
Terrell's length may impact his interception numbers (three as a Tiger and none in 2025), but his positioning has allowed him to rack up passes defended.
Ultimately, Terrell's lack of elite size and, perhaps, speed make him a slot corner at the next level. If nothing else, his foot speed and tenacity in run defense make that a strong fit.
While the hamstring may draw some concern, Terrell hasn't missed game action, and there isn't anything to suggest that this is the kind of soft-tissue injury that will follow him to the league. Subsequently, I'm not concerned about this injury tainting his profile, nor do I expect it to impact his draft stock.
Terrell is a sure-fire first-round pick whose blend of traits and production makes him a safe bet to start. McCoy's 2024 film and Delane's bulletproof 2025 campaign will make it a little more difficult for him to crack the top 15 come April. Now without the opportunity to validate his athleticism on paper, Terrell may see a small slide toward the end of Round 1.
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